5 Pregnancy Energy Boosters

Sorry, but you can’t order the Trenta (extra-large!) coffee while you’re expecting, but you can find other ways to get a lift.

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Sorry, but you can’t order the Trenta (extra-large!) coffee while you’re expecting, but you can find other ways to get a lift.

1. Water

Very few women drink six to eight glasses of water per day, and you’re supposed to have even more, since your body’s busy making baby’s amniotic fluid. (The water you drink helps constantly replenish the fluid supply.) Dehydration can also up your risk of urinary tract infections and preterm labor. Sick of plain water? Frances Largeman-Roth, registered dietician and author of Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom’s Healthy Eating Guide, suggests drinking coconut water, or adding mint or lemon, lime or cucumber slices to your H2O. However you like your water, the key is carrying an 8-ounce bottle with you all day and sipping from it often.

2. Nuts

Snacking throughout the day can help keep your energy up — and nuts are convenient to carry with you. They offer protein and fiber to keep you fuller longer, plus healthy fats (including brain-boosting omega-3s) and magnesium (you need 800 milligrams). Trying not to go too crazy with calories? Shell-on pistachios take longer to eat, giving your body more time to register that it’s full.

3. Mangoes

Most pregnant women are mildly anemic (which equals tired), especially during the final stages of pregnancy, when the body is prepping for birth and producing a ton of extra blood. Your lifesaver? Mangoes, says Largeman-Roth. “The natural fruit sugars in mangoes lift energy levels. Plus, fresh mango is an excellent source of folate, which can help prevent birth defects.” Mango also has vitamin C, which helps your body absorb the energy-boosting effects of iron-rich foods, like lean red meat and beans.

4. Spinach

Did we mention spinach? Here’s another example of an iron-rich food. One cup of boiled spinach offers 6.4 milligrams of iron. Keep a bag of it on hand for salads and sautés, and even sneak it into your Sunday lasagna. Note that while spinach is high in iron for a veggie, you need a whopping total of 27 milligrams of iron each day during pregnancy. So keep taking your prenatal vitamin too.

5. Sweet Potatoes

Here’s another food to help you reach your iron quota — one medium sweet potato offers 0.8 milligrams. The vitamin C and copper assist in its absorption too. Bonus: Your body uses a sweet potato’s beta-carotene to make vitamin A, which helps baby’s eye, bone and skin development. (If you’re eating well and still feel ridiculously sluggish, see your OB, who may want to test for anemia or check your thyroid.)